Whether you’re looking for an event, activity or just some books – your local libraries have something on this half term. All our libraries run regular groups and activities for children and families – almost all of these continue during the school holidays! Most of which are drop in; so there’s no need to book, just turn up and have fun.

Check out what’s on this half term; and don’t forget to stock up on books while you’re visiting.
It’s not just picture books, chapter books and information books that can be found at the library.

There’s the books for those that are just learning to read and those that are starting to get the hang of it. There’s the search and find books, spot the books and graphic novels.
There’s the books you can listen to, and the books you can download to a smart phone or tablet.
There’s the MicroBIT kits that can be borrowed to do some coding at home and for the parents, there are magazines as well as books to borrow.

Regular groups and activities taking place can be found here, and includes:
Construction clubs, where children get to play with building blocks of different sizes.
Storytime, 30 minutes of stories for children of all ages, stories are aimed at ages 2-5.
Rhymetime, 30 minutes of music, songs and rhymes. For infants, babies and toddlers – but enjoyed by all ages.
Craft clubs, regular crafting sessions at the library for different ages.
These are just four of the regular activities taking place, check out the website or speak to a member of staff at your local library to find out more about regular groups and activities.

Below are the cool, one off events and activities happening during half term! Check them out today;

Saturday 26 October

ABC Family Concerts: Bang the Drum!
Winchester Discovery Centre
2.30pm
Tickets £8

Come and join Percussionist Harriet Riley and String player Neil Valentine for a rip roaring ride through the world of hitting things! ABC Family Concerts brings incredible artists who present their favourite musical styles for you and your baby to enjoy.
From the majestic marimba to the dancing djembe, Harriet will take you on a world of fun with all things percussive. This concert will take you around the world, with thumping beats and toe-tapping fun. Plus a few familiar tunes and some audience participation of course! You will clap, dance, jig, sing and laugh your way through some of the greatest music for strings in this engaging and fun concert. One not to be missed!Concerts are open access; you are free to move around, feed, drink, walk, jump, clap, laugh, cry, shout, sing, roll or change a nappy. 

Monday 28 October

The Caveman Next Door with Author Tom Tinn-Disbury
Fareham Library
10am
Tickets: FREE

Trying to fit into the modern world when you are a caveman isn’t easy. 
Ogg always seems to get things wrong, with hilarious results. 
Poor Ogg, he just wants to fit in. 
Luckily he has his best friend Penny to help him.

Join author and illustrator Tom Tinn-Disbury as he reads from, and talks about,  his book The Caveman Next Door, followed by a fun craft activity. 
A creative and entertaining event, to inspire and engage children aged 3-7 years.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
This is a FREE event but places are limited, so advanced booking is adviced.
To book your space, please visit Fareham Library.

Sabores y Sentidos (Flavours and Senses): Children’s Cookery Workshop
Winchester Discovery Centre
10am-1pm
Tickets: £22.50

An interactive cookery workshop to excite the senses, offering a Latin American experience for children. Parents are invited to enjoy their children’s food during the final half an hour of the workshop. Be amazed by your child’s ability to cook authentic cuisine! Ages 8-12

Lego® Robotics
Basingstoke Discovery Centre
10am
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Sabores y Sentidos (Flavours and Senses): Children’s Cookery Workshop
Winchester Discovery Centre
3pm-6pm
Tickets: £22.50

An interactive cookery workshop to excite the senses, offering a Latin American experience for children. Parents are invited to enjoy their children’s food during the final half an hour of the workshop. Be amazed by your child’s ability to cook authentic cuisine! Ages 8-12

Tuesday 29 October

Lego® Robotics
Basingstoke Discovery Centre
10am
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Quirks Animal Encounter
Basingstoke Discovery Centre
11am
Tickets: £6

Come along to meet a variety of animals from around the world at the Quirks’ Animal Roadshows workshop. You’ll have the opportunity to stroke and hold the animals as well as discovering lots of interesting facts about where they come from, what they eat and what makes them unique.
Suitable for ages 4+, buy your tickets directly from Basingstoke Discovery Centre.

Quirks Animal Encounter
Tadley Library
1.30pm
Tickets: £6

Come along to meet a variety of animals from around the world at the Quirks’ Animal Roadshows workshop. You’ll have the opportunity to stroke and hold the animals as well as discovering lots of interesting facts about where they come from, what they eat and what makes them unique.
Suitable for ages 4+, buy your tickets directly from Tadley Library.

Mrs Sweatyfoot, Socks and Spooky Stories
Waterlooville Library
2pm-4pm
Tickets: £2

Come along and listen to a storyteller tell a wooly yarn and make your own puppet. This event is suitable for children under 8 and is part of the Darkfest festivities.

Advanced booking is adviced.

Lego® Robotics
Basingstoke Discovery Centre
2pm
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Quirks Animal Encounter
Chineham Library
4pm
Tickets: £6

Come along to meet a variety of animals from around the world at the Quirks’ Animal Roadshows workshop. You’ll have the opportunity to stroke and hold the animals as well as discovering lots of interesting facts about where they come from, what they eat and what makes them unique.
Suitable for ages 4+, buy your tickets directly from Chineham Library.

Halloween at Leigh Park Library
Leigh Park Library
2pm
Tickets: FREE

Come along to construction club and build a creepy house, drop in between 2pm and 4pm, followed by Halloween stories and rhymes from 4pm to 4.30pm.
Free tickets available from the library, booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Wednesday 30 October

Lego® Robotics
Waterlooville Library
10am
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Furlock Holmes animal care
Andover Library
11am
Tickets: £4

Handle and learn more about guinea pigs and rabbits with Furlock Holmes.
Furlock Holmes Animal Care is a registered animal rescue charity based in Whitchurch, Hampshire.
Specialising in rabbits and guinea pigs, we take in unwanted, abandoned, neglected and mistreated animals with the aim of rehabilitating and re-homing them. Any animals requiring ongoing treatment or needing special care remain at the rescue with us as permanent residents. As well as rescuing animals, we also offer a boarding service and care for pets when people go away, whether they are going on holiday or having to stay in hospital and being unable to care for their pets. We strongly believe that not only can people help animals, but that animals can also help people.
Ticket price is per participating child with one accompanying adult free.

Campervan Storytime
Basingstoke Discovery Centre
2pm
Tickets: £3

Join local author Rachel Jane as she shares her stories about the campervans from Red Hatch Farm! You’ll join in the adventures of Milo, Lil and Tallulah followed by fun campervan crafts.
Rachel will also be signing copies of her books afterwards.
Book your space from staff at Basingstoke Discovery Centre.

Halloween Craft Activity
Horndean Library
2.30pm
Tickets: FREE

Come along and join us for some spooky fun making crafts.
Drop in between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
Parents/carers to remain in the library throughout.

Meet and read with Diamond the therapy dog
Waterlooville Library
4pm -4.45pm
Tickets: FREE

Join Diamond a Pets as Therapy dog. Reading to a PAT dog like Diamond, can help a child feel less self-conscious and more confident about reading.
Parents and carers to stay with their children. For more information please contact the library.

Thursday 31 October

Lego® Robotics
Hythe Library
10am
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Baba Yaga & other stories for Halloween
Waterlooville Library
2.30pm
Tickets: £3

Bluebird the Storyteller will tell a Baba Yaga tale and other stories for Halloween.
All Russian Children know of the wicked Witch Baba Yaga who lives in a house raised up on Chicken legs. She has 3 black geese who round up children to bring to her. Come along to listen to what happens when a young lad finds the strange house in the woods.
Bluebird in her own free style will enchant and enthral listeners even on the scariest of days with spooky Halloween tales.
Aimed at audiences of 7+
Booking is essential

Happy Horrid Henry Halloween
Fareham Library
5pm
Tickets: FREE

With trick or treat games for children aged 6 to 10 years
Free but booking is essential.  Please speak to a member of staff in the library to book a space.
Parents and carers to remain with their children during this activity 

Friday 1 November

Campervan Storytime
Fleet Library
10.30am
Tickets: £3

Join local author Rachel Jane as she shares her stories about the campervans from Red Hatch Farm! You’ll join in the adventures of Milo, Lil and Tallulah followed by fun campervan crafts. Rachel will also be signing copies of her books afterwards.

Lego® Robotics
Gosport Discovery Centre
11am
Tickets: FREE

Parent and child will work together to Code and program EV3 Robots. Using pre-built EV3 space models controlled via iPads participants will work in pairs to write the code necessary to program the EV3 to complete a space-based mission. No previous experience is required.
The child must be accompanied by an adult (18+), booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Book your space at the library.

Brilliant Bats
Waterlooville Library
2pm-2.30pm
Tickets: £2

Come along and meet the Hampshire Bat Group and their brilliant bats during half term and create your own bat craft to take home.
Booking essential. Parents/carers to stay. For more information please contact the library.

Brilliant Bats
Waterlooville Library
2.45pm-3.15pm
Tickets: £2

Come along and meet the Hampshire Bat Group and their brilliant bats during half term and create your own bat craft to take home.
Booking essential. Parents/carers to stay. For more information please contact the library.

Saturday 2 November

Young People’s Meet the Authors – A Panel Discussion
Winchester Discovery Centre
2pm
Tickets: £4

This week we are presenting a range of book related fun as part of the half-term book festival. An older children, teen and young adult author panel discussion, revealing the secrets of writing and tip for inspiring new writers. Featuring:
– Perdita and Honor Cargill, mother and daughter writers of the warm and witty ‘Waiting for Callback’ series
– Kate Mallinder author of new release ‘The Summer of No Regrets’ a perfect teen read about friendship, bravery and hope.
– Kirsty Applebaum is debut author of The Middler, about the trials and frustrations of being the middle child

Books available on the day from P&G Wells booksellers, for signing by the authors.